Heavy duty container with integral handle



March 21, 1967 J. J. DLUGOPOLSKI 3,310,219

HEAVY DUTY CONTAINER WITH INTEGRAL HANDLE United States Patent 3,310,219HEAVY DUTY CONTAINER WITH INT EGRAL HANDLE Joseph J. Dingopolski,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 2, 1965, Ser. No. 460,638 7Claims. (Cl. 22934) This invention relates to paperboardshipping-containers, and more particularly to heavy duty containershaving reinformed walls to provide special rigidity for increasedstacking strength.

The invention comprehends an improved end wall construction whichprovides an integral handle arrangement for grasping and carrying thecontainer.

ner posts and a recessed center portion providing a handle.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from anexamination of the following description anddrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying features of theinvention, with its cover shown in the closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but with 'the'cover shown in anopen position and with a portion of one of the end walls shown in apartially assembled condition;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinaLvertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal section'taken on line 44 of FIGURE2; and

FIGURE 5'is'top plan view of the blank from which the containerillustrated in the other views may be formed.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certainelementshave been intention-ally omitted from certain views where theyarebelieved to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawing fora' better understanding of theinvention, and particularly to FIGURE 2, it

will be seen that the container includes a tray indicated front and rearside walls 12 and 14 and opposed end walls 16 hinged thereto andupstanding therefrom to form a box-like structure open at the top.

The cover of the container includes a generally rectangular fiat topwall 20, having the same dimensions as the bottom wall 10, which ishinged at its rear edge to the upper edge of the tray rear side wall 14.Hinged at its 'upper edge to the forward edge of cover top wall 20 is acover front panel 22 which is of substantially the same dimensions asthe tray front side wa.ll"12 and which is adapted to overlie the trayfront side wall-when the cover is in closed condition. Hingedly attachedtot-he opposite end edges of the cover front panel 22 are -a pair ofclosure flaps 24 which are preferably formed with rounded outer edges tofacilitate closure of the cover in a manner hereinafter described.

Still referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seenthat the -front and rearside walls 12 and 14 of the tray are singleply, rectangular fiat walls;whereas, end walls 16 of the tray are multi-ply, reinforced Walls whichhave the dual pling, if desired (not shown). a great deal of additionalrigidity for theend wall of the container and, when the cover is closed,the portions of 3,3 l 0,2 19 Patented Mar. 21, -1 967 ice function ofproviding addition stacking strength and at the same time providinghandle means for grasping and lifting the container.

Each -of'the end walls 16 is divided into aLpair of end sections 30located on'opposite side'of a recessed center section 32. The end wallsof the tray each'include an outer shell having outer, top, and innerpanels formed from an extension of the bottom wall of thetray, with theend wall outer panel 34 being hinged to the outer or'end edge of thetray bottom wall and having hinged to its upper edge a relatively narrowelongated top panel 36, which in turn has hinged to its opposite orinner edge the upper edge ofend wall inner panel 38. The end wall innerpanel 38 may be formed at its free edge with a downwardly extendingprojection or locking tab 40 adapted to be received within acomplimentary slot 42 formed in the bottom wall of the tray to securethe end wall in position. It will be understood that the outer and-innerpanels of the end wall are spaced from each other a distance equal tothe width of the en'd wall top panel 36.

The end wall outer panel has a central portion 44 cut wall portion 44 isdisplaced inwardly whenthe carton is erected so that horizontalsection50 lies against that portion of the tray bottom wall which liesoutwardly of the end wall inner panel and so that vertical section 52lies against the outer face of the'end wallinner panel 38. Section52-may be secured to the outer faceof the end wall inner panel in anymanner, suchas by gluing or stapling (not shown), and also horizontalsection 50 may be securedto the tray bottom wall 10 by gluing or sta-This construction affords the cover and the end wall top panelwhichoverlie the 'recessed center section 32 of the end wall formahandle forgrasping and lifting the carton.

The corners of the tray portion of the container are provided withinternal corner posts 58 located within the end sections of each endwall'to add'rigidity to the container and provide additional stackingstrength. These corner posts 58 are disposed inthe space between theinner and outer panels of the end walls and each are formed by anextension 60 hinged to the end of a side wall panel and divided by apair-of double score lines 62 and 64 into first (outer), second (inner),and third (center) layers, 64, 66, and 68, respectively, which arefolded as best seen in FIGURE 4 to provide a multi-ply corner postconstruction.

When the carton is erected the extensiond 60 are rolled or folded up inthe manner shown, and, as the front and rear side walls are brought tothe vertical position, the end walls-are wrapped or folded over thecorner posts with the locking tabs 40 inserted in the bottom Wall slot42 to form a'rigid' end wall construction.

As best seen in FIGURE 2 it will be noticed that there is aspace betweenthe end wall outer panels and the corner posts outer portions which isadapted to receive the cover front closure flaps 24 when the cover ismoved tothe closed position.

Thus it will be understood by this novel construction from a unitaryblank'of foldable paperboard there is formed a rigid box-like structurewith integral cover which has additional strength in the end walls-forstacking and Y which is provided with integral handlemeans by the novelend wall construction.

I claim:

1. A reinforced shipping container formed from a umtary blank offoldable paperboard, comprising:

(a) a tray having a bottom wall with opposed pairs of front and rearside walls and end walls upstanding therefrom to form a box-likestructure open at the p;

(b) said tray end walls each including:

(i) a pair of parallel, inner and outer panels spaced from each otherand interconnected at their upper edges by a relatively narrow,elonagted top panel hinged at its side edges to the upper edges of saidinner and outer panels; said outer panel being hinged at its lower edgeto an adjacent end edge of said bottom wall, and said inner panel havinginterlocking engagement with said bottom wall;

(ii) said outer panel having a medial portion cut therefrom to form apair of strips which are folded and secured against the outer surface ofthe inner panel and the upper surface of the bottom wall to provide acentral recess in the outside of the end wall affording handle means forgrasping and lifting the container under a medial portion of said toppanel;

(iii) a pair of corner posts positioned in the end wall on oppositesides ofsaid central recess to provide additional rigidity and stackingstrength for the container; said corner posts being integrally formedfrom extensions hinged to the end edges of the tray side walls whichhave been folded to present multi-sided columns;

() a cover formed integrally with the tray for closing said structure;including:

(i) a top wall hinged at its rear edge to the upper edge of the trayrear side wall;

(ii) a front panel hinged to and depending from the forward edge of thetop wall and disposed to overlie the tray front side wall when the coveris in closed position;

(iii) a pair of locking flaps hinged to the end edges of the cover frontpanel and insertable into openings in the front of the end walls of thetray for locking the cover in closed position.

2. A reinforced shipping container formed from a unitary blank offoldable paperboard comprising:

(a) a tray having a bottom wall with opposed pairs of front and rearside walls and end walls upstanding therefrom to form a boxlikestructure open at the p;

(b) said tray end walls each including:

(i) -a pair of parallel, inner and outer panels spaced from each otherand interconnected at their upper edges by a relatively narrow,elongated top panel hinged at its side edges to the upper edges of saidinner and outer panels; said outer panel being hinged at its lower edgeto an adjacent end edge of said bottom wall, and said inner panel havinginterlocking engagement with said bottom wall;

(ii) said outer panel having a medial portion cut therefrom to form apair of strips which are folded and secured against the outer surface ofthe inner panel and the upper surface of the bottom wall to provide acentral recess in the outside of the end wall affording handle means forgrasping and lifting the container under a medial portion of said toppanel;

(iii) a pair of corner posts positioned in the end wall on oppositesides of said central recess to provide additional rigidity and stackingstrength for the container; said corner posts being integrally formedfrom extensions hinged to the end edges of the tray side walls whichhave been folded to present multi-sided columns;

(c) a cover formed integrally with the tray for closing said structure;including:

(i) a top wall hinged at its rear edge to the upper edge of the trayrear side wall;

(ii) a front panel hinged to and depending from the forward edge of thetop wall and disposed to overlie the tray front side wall when the coveris in closed position.

3. A reinforced shipping container formed from a unitary blank offoldable paperboard, comprising:

(a) a tray having a bottom wall with opposed pairs of front and rearside walls and end walls upstanding therefrom to form a box-likestructure open at the p;

(b) said tray end walls each including:

(i) a pair of parallel, inner and outer panels spaced from each otherand interconnected at their upper edges by a relatively narrow,elongated top panel hinged at its side edges to the upper edges of saidinner and outer panels; said outer panel being hinged at its lower edgeto an adjacent end edge of said bottom wall, and said inner panel havinginterlocking engagement with said bottom wall;

(ii) said outer panel having a medial portion cut therefrom to form apair of strips which are folded and secured against the outer surface ofthe inner panel and the upper surface of the bottom wall to provide acentral recess in the outside of the end wall alfording handle means forgrasping and lifting the container under a medial portion of said toppanel;

(iii) a pair of corner posts positioned in the end wall on oppositesides of said central recess to provide additional rigidity and stackingstrength for the container; said corner posts being integrally formedfrom extensions hinged to the end edges of the tray side walls whichhave been folded to present multi-sided columns;

(0) a cover formed integrally with the tray for closing said structure.

4. A reinforced shipping container formed from a unitary blank offoldable paperboard, comprising:

(a) a tray having a bottom wall with opposed pairs of front and rearside walls and end walls upstanding therefrom to form a box-likestructure open at the p;

(b) said tray end walls each including:

(i) a pair of parallel, inner and outer panels spaced from each otherand interconnected at their upper edges by a. relatively narrow,elongated top panel hinged at its side edges to the upper edges of saidinner and outer panels; said outer panel being hinged at its lower edgeto an adjacent end edge of said bottom wall, and said inner panel havingits lower end fixed relative to said bottom wall;

(ii) a pair of corner posts positioned in the end wall at opposite endsthereof to provide additional rigidity and stacking strength for thecontainer; said corner posts being integrally formed from extensionshinged to the end edges of the tray front wall which have been folded topresent multi-sided columns;

(iii) said outer panels having a central portion thereof cut therefromto provide on the outside of said end wall an inwardly extending offsetarea between said corner posts affording handle means for grasping andlifting the container under a medial portion of said top panel;

(0) a cover formed integrally with the tray for closing said structure.5. A reinforced shipping container formed from a unitary blank offoldable paperboard, comprising:

(a) a tray having a bottom wall with opposed pairs of front and rearside walls and end walls upstanding therefrom to form a box-likestructure open at the top;

(b) said tray end walls each including:

(i) a pair of parallel, inner and outer panels spaced from each otherand interconnected at their upper edges by a relatively narrow,elongated top panel hinged at its side edges to the upper edges of saidinner and outer panels; said outer panel being hinged at its lower edgeto an adjacent end edge of said bottom wall, and said inner panel havingits lower end fixed relative to said bottom wall;

(ii) a pair of corner posts positioned in the end wall at opposite endsthereof to provide additional rigidity and stacking strength for thecontainer; said corner posts being integrally formed from extensionshinged to the end edges of the tray front wall which have been folded topresent mult-i-sided columns;

(iii) said outer panel having a central portion thereof cut therefrom toprovide on the outside of said end wall an inwardly extending offsetarea between said corner posts afif-ording handle means for grasping andlifting the container under a medial portion of said top panel.

6. A reinforced shipping container formed from a unitary blank offoldable paperboard, comprising:

(a) a tray having a bottom wall with opposed pairs of front and rearside walls and end walls upstanding therefrom to form a box-likestructure open at the top;

(b) said tray end walls each including:

(i) a pair of parallel, inner and outer panels spaced from each otherand interconnected at their upper edges by a relatively narrow,elongated top panel hinged at its side edges to the upper edges of saidinner and outer panels; said outer panel being hinged at its lower edgeto an adjacent end edge of said bottom wall, said inner panel having itslower end fixed relative to said bottom wall;

(ii) said outer panel having a medial portion cut therefrom to form apair of strips which are folded and secured against the outer surface ofthe inner panel and the upper surface of the bottom wall to provide acentral recess in the outside of the end wall affording handle means forgrasping and iifting the container under a medial portion of said toppanel;

(iii) a pair of corner posts positioned in the end wall on oppositesides of said central recess to provide additional rigidity and stackingstrength for the container; said corner posts being in- 6 tegrallyformed from extensions hinged to the end edges of the tray side wallswhich have been folded to present multi-sided columns;

(0) a cover formed integrally with the tray for closing said structure.

7. A reinforced shipping container formed from a unitary blank offoldable paperboard, comprising:

(a) a tray having a bottom wall with opposed pairs of front and rearside walls and end walls upstanding therefrom to form a box-likestructure open at the p;

(b) said tray end walls each including:

(i) a pair of parallel, inner and outer panels spaced from each otherand interconnected at their upper edges by a relatively narrow,elongated top panel hinged at its side edges to the upper edges of saidinner and outer panels; said outer panel being hinged at its lower edgeto an adjacent end edge of said bottom wall, and said inner panel havingits lower end fixed relative to said bottom wall;

(i-i) said outer panel having a medial portion cut therefrom to form apair of strips which are folded and secured against the outer surface ofthe inner panel and the upper surface of the bottom wall to provide acentral recess in the outside of the end wall aifording handle means forgrasping and lifting the container under a medial portion of said toppanel;

(iii) a pair of corner posts positioned in the end wall on oppositesides of said central recess to provide additional rigidity and stackingstrength for the container; said corner posts being integrallyformed'f-rom extensions hinged to the end edges of the tray side wallswhich have been folded to present multi-sided columns.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 800,546 9/ 1905Brown 22933 1,747,979 2/ 1930 Kondolf 229- 33 2,180,682 11/1939 Lapara.

2,319,919 5/1943 Clark 229-34 2,548,001 4/1951 Butterfill 229332,581,944 1/ 1952 Donnell 22934 2,731,191 1/1956 Layne 229-34 FOREIGNPATENTS 5 3 8,976 8/ 1941 Great Britain. 1,300,018 6/1962 France.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner.

1. A REINFORCED SHIPPING CONTAINER FORMED FROM A UNITARY BLANK OFFOLDABLE PAPERBOARD, COMPRISING: (A) A TRAY HAVING A BOTTOM WALL WITHOPPOSED PAIRS OF FRONT AND REAR SIDE WALLS AND END WALLS UPSTANDINGTHEREFROM TO FORM A BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE OPEN AT THE TOP; (B) SAID TRAYEND WALLS EACH INCLUDING: (I) A PAIR OF PARALLEL, INNER AND OUTER PANELSSPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND INTERCONNECTED AT THEIR UPPER EDGES BY ARELATIVELY NARROW, ELONGATED TOP PANEL HINGED AT ITS SIDE EDGES TO THEUPPER EDGES OF SAID INNER AND OUTER PANELS; SAID OUTER PANEL BEINGHIGNED AT ITS LOWER EDGE TO AN ADJACENT END EDGE OF SAID BOTTOM WALL,AND SAID INNER PANEL HAVING INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BOTTOMWALL; (II) SAID OUTER PANEL HAVING A MEDIAL PORTION CUT THEREFROM TOFORM A PAIR OF STRIPS WHICH ARE FOLDED TO FORM A PAIR OF STRIPS WHICHARE THE INNER PANEL AND THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE BOTTOM WALL TO PROVIDEA CENTRAL RECESS IN THE OUTSIDE OF THE END WALL AFFORDING HANDLE MEANSFOR GRASPING AND LIFTING THE CONTAINER UNDER A MEDIAL PORTON OF SAID TOPPANEL; (III) A PAIR OF CORNER POSTS POSITIONED IN THE END WALL ONOPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CENTRAL RECESS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RADIGITY ANDSTACKING STRENGTH FOR THE CONTAINER; SAID CORNER POSTS BEING INTEGRALLYFORMED FROM EXTENSIONS HINGED TO THE END EDGES OF THE TRAY SIDE WALLSWHICH HAVE BEEN FOLDED TO PRESENT MULTI-SIDED COLUMNS; (C) A COVERFORMED INTEGRALLY WITH THE TRAY FOR CLOSING SAID STRUCTURE; INCLUDING:(I) A TOP WALL HINGED AT ITS REAR EDGE TO THE UPPER EDGE OF THE TRAYREAR SIDE WALL; (II) A FRONT PANEL HINGED TO AND DEPENDING FROM THEFORWARD EDGE OF THE TOP WALL AND DISPOSED TO OVERLIE THE TRAY FRONT SIDEWALL WHEN THE COVER IS IN CLOSED POSITION; (III) A PAIR OF LOCKING FLAPSHINGED TO THE END EDGES OF THE COVER FRONT PANEL AND INSERTABLE INTOOPENINGS IN THE FRONT OF THE END WALLS OF THE TRAY FOR LOCKING THE COVERIN CLOSED POSITION.